Celebritology 2.0: December 12, 2010 - December 18, 2010

Alison Sweeney on 'The Biggest Loser' set. (NBC) What's Alison Sweeney's biggest piece of advice for new moms trying to drop post-pregnancy pounds? "Commit to it," said the "Biggest Loser" host and "Days of Our Lives" mainstay in an interview earlier this week. " I talk about just going to take a shower, putting some make-up on -- your baby will survive and you'll feel better about yourself." Sweeney shares more tips for new moms in her upcoming book, "The Mommy Diet." (Hitting store shelves Dec. 28, just in time for New Year's resolutions.) Sweeney's also targeting a new segment of the population for a fitness makeover: the family dog. She got interested in mutt maintenance when a vet said her own dog, Winky, was overweight. After the jump, Sweeney talks about "The Biggest Loser," fit moms and how she whipped (no, not literally) Winky into shape......

Nothing says Christmas like Jake Gyllenhaal in a Santa hat. (Universal) Like so much about the yuletide season, when it comes to our Christmas movies, we tend to fall back on tradition. Hence, at some point in December, we feel obligated to sit down and watch one or all of the following: "It's a Wonderful Life," "A Christmas Story," "Miracle on 34th Street," "National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation" and/or "Elf." And hey, there's nothing wrong with that. I also feel like something is amiss if I haven't spent time with George Bailey or Ralphie Parker before the holidays are over. But sometimes it's nice to mix it up. Which is why, five years ago, I wrote this list of unconventional holiday movies to watch on DVD. That first list led to a second list, then morphed into an annual little Washington Post tradition of its own. This year's rundown of...

Careful with the ketchup: Lennon's 'Abbey Road' suit. (AP) Here's the sixth installment in our 12 Days of Celebritology Giftology series, a dozen posts designed to help you cross the celebrity- and pop-culture-obsessed pals off your holiday gift-giving lists. Think of these posts as our gift to you. We're just that generous. Today's mission: To surprise the ultimate Beatle fan in your life with primo John Lennon memorabilia. Sadly, this will only work for a few of you. The rest of you lot may want to buy the newly available iTunes Beatles' catalog for your pals. As for the items up for grabs, Braswell Galleries of Norwalk, Conn., will be auctioning off Lennon's two-piece wool-blend "Abbey Road" album cover suit, his "Imagine" video jacket and this 1972 green Chrysler station wagon on New Year's Day: According to the auction site, the station wagon was “used on a cross-country journey...

Tony Romo and Candice Crawford at Dallas Mavericks game in April. (AP) Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo, notable here for being Jessica Simpson's one-time beau, is engaged. According to Us, Romo is engaged to Candice Crawford -- a one-time Miss Missouri and graduate of the University of Missouri who is currently a sports reporter for Dallas TV station KDAF-TV. She's also the sister of "Gossip Girl" star Chace Crawford. The two have been dating for a little over a year and Romo apparently proposed on Thursday -- coincidentally Crawford's 24th birthday. Crawford hasn't updated her Twitter page since mid-November. No word yet on Jessica Simpson's reaction. We'll keep a close eye on her Twitter feed, too. We should add that Simpson herself became engaged to boyfriend Eric Johnson in November. And, coincidentally, Simpson ex-husband Nick Lachey is also headed for matrimony: earlier in November, he and girlfriend Vanessa Minnillo...

In August, Michael C. Hall and Jennifer Carpenter arrive for the 62nd Primetime Emmy Awards in Los Angeles. (AP) On what may henceforth be known as "Terrible Tuesday," we may just have lost our ability to believe in long-lasting celebrity coupledom. First, "High School Musical" sweethearts Zac Efron and Vanessa Hudgens announced their break up after a relationship that saw them through the transition from teen idols to twenty-somethings. Then, on the same day we learned that "Dexter's" Michael C. Hall had separated from his on-screen foster sister, Jennifer Carpenter amidst rumors of an alleged affair between Hall and another "Dexter" co-star, Julia Stiles. (Stiles denies any involvement, it should be noted.) Carpenter officially filed for divorce on Thursday. But back to Tuesday. Before the day was out, GQ's Babe of the Year and People's Sexiest Man Alive -- Scarlett Johannsson and Ryan Reynolds -- announced an amicable split...

Oh, fudge. I really wish there was some "Christmas Story" fudge in my stocking. (Image via Christmas Story House gift shop) Here's the sixth installment in our 12 Days of Celebritology Giftology series, a dozen posts designed to help you cross the celebrity- and pop-culture-obsessed pals off your holiday gift-giving lists. Think of these posts as our gift to you. We're just that generous. Today's mission: Find those small items to stuff in the stockings of the relatives/friends who constantly quote "Mad Men" or wish they were Tony Stark. With so much focus on big-ticket, splashy holiday gifts, it's easy to forget the little things ... until Christmas Eve, when you realize your husband's or daughter's stocking has nothing in it. Here are seven pop-culturally themed options designed to help you avoid that crisis and spend Christmas Eve the way it should be spent: watching 24 Hours of "A...

(GQ) Winona Ryder is, according to the latest GQ, "too old to coquette and too young to cougar." She also "bats a set of eyelashes as dark and lush as marabou dipped in squid ink." This, by the way, is a maribou stork, so I'm thinking maybe Winona should be slightly offended. Ryder, is of course, one ingredient that contributed to Darren Aronofsky's "Black Swan," the creepy ballerina thriller nominated for both a Golden Globe best picture award and Screen Actors Guild award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture. And so she's back on the radar for, essentially, playing herself -- a fading star tossed aside in favor of the next new young thing. Of course, Ryder did help herself off the Hollywood fastrack in 2001 when she was arrested on shoplifting charges in Beverly Hills. And so we're in the midst of a mini...

Jeff Bridges at Comic-Con 2010. (AP) Jeff Bridges currently inhabits two distinctly different cinematic worlds. One is the futuristic, computer-generated matrix of "Tron: Legacy," which arrives in theaters at midnight tonight, much to the delight of Grid geeks, Daft Punk fans and anyone who enjoys the comforting glow of neon light. The second involves the old-fashioned Western landscapes of the Coen brothers' "True Grit," which opens Dec. 22 and features Bridges in the role of grizzled U.S. Marshall Rooster Cogburn. Back in July, during my whirlwind journey through Comic-Con, I got a few moments to chat with Bridges about a variety of things, including life after his Oscar win, reprising his "Tron" role as Kevin Flynn and his love-hate relationship with technology. Oh, and water bottles. We talked about that, too. I held off on publishing the Q&A until now, to capitalize on the moment when both "Tron Legacy"...

Blake Edwards, a 2001 Kennedy Center Honoree, with wife Julie Andrews. (AP) Blake Edwards, the man credited with creating the "Pink Panther" passed away this morning at 88. Edwards will be remembered as a comic genius for creating Peter Sellers's "Pink Panther" character and for writing and directing a slew of comedies -- including "10," "Victor/Victoria" and "S.O.B." -- the last two starring his wife of 41 years, Julie Andrews. His films became the template for '80s-era smart comedy. But the writer/director also had a serious side, directing Audrey Hepburn in 1961's adaptation of Truman Capote's "Breakfast at Tiffany's" and 1962's brutal look at alcoholism, "Days of Wine and Roses." From Variety.com: "I would not be able to get through life had I not been able to view its painfulness in a comedic way," he once told a reporter. "So when I put life up there on the screen,...

Some shows make us wait like a year between seasons ("Walking Dead," I'm looking at you), but luckily in the land of "reality," a dozen episodes can be produced in just a few weeks and ready for public consumption lickety-split. Such is the case with "Jersey Shore," MTV's new classic about a group of meatheads and hair-extension mannequins who curse, fight, drink, nap and do lots of laundry. Season 2's sweaty finale aired in late October, but already Snooki and the gang are slated to return to cable on Jan. 6 (which totally messes up my "Quit killing brain cells with 'Jersey Shore' " New Year's resolution). Watch the newly released promo below to get a peek at a drunk (imagine that) Snooki, chick-on-chick fistfights and the newest cast member, Deena Nicole Cortese (who looks like she's going to take on Snooki in the leopard-print mini-dress department): Related: Celebritology Giftology...

Hilary Swank (pictured here with Sam Rockwell) in "Conviction": Could a SAG nod lead to another Oscar one? (Fox Searchlight) The nominees for the Screen Actors Guild Awards -- which often provide strong clues about which actors will receive nominations come Oscar time -- were announced this morning. As we saw with the Golden Globe nominations, there are plenty of accolades for stars of "The Fighter," "Black Swan" and "The King's Speech." But some expected contenders are missing from the list. Notably absent: Andrew Garfield from "The Social Network," who is recognized as part of the overall ensemble but not for his individual performance. Also falling in the snubbed category are Michelle Williams and Ryan Gosling, neither of whom are nominated for "Blue Valentine," and "Inception," which struck out entirely in the SAG Award department. There are some additions that didn't make the Globes cut, though, including Jeff Bridges...

A sneak peek at "Water for Elephants," the film adaptation of Sara Gruen's book club favorite about a Big Top love triangle and a major circus disaster, is now online. And if the clip is any indication, the movie will at least look gorgeous. Featuring grand, hazy-with-nostalgia visuals and shots of Reese Witherspoon looking every inch the old movie star, it's a feast for the eyes. Of course, a number of people will think said feast is really all about Robert Pattinson, who definitely comes across (appropriately) as less broody and Edward Cullen-ish here. Me? I was more focused on an enraged Christoph Waltz and the wonderful Hal Holbrook. Oh, and the elephant, who is clearly on track to win an Oscar in early 2012. Have a look....

That's Kate O'Brien on the left. In case you missed it, Amy Adams dropped by "Conan" Wednesday evening to talk about her new movie, "The Fighter." The clip below is worth watching for lots of reasons: Adams explains why she's remained a bottle redhead, reveals that her mother was a semi-pro body builder and says a major swear word. But make sure to stick it out until minute 8:00 when they roll the clip and you can catch, just briefly, Conan O'Brien's sister, Kate, making her acting debut:...

Christian Bale is known for his seriousness and intensity as an actor. But guess what? When pressed, he will break down and sing the theme song from "The Powerpuff Girls." And this video proves it. A few things I love about this video. 1. The look Bale gives Peter Travers when he insists that Christopher Nolan beatboxed during a previous interview. 2. How Bale asks "Do you know it?" after his rendition of the "Powerpuff Girls" theme in a way that suggests he genuinely is eager for Travers to know it. 3. Mark Wahlberg's version of "You Got the Touch" from "Boogie Nights," which doesn't outshine his "Fighter" co-star's musical work here but is still pretty nice. 4. How absurdly hot Bale is throughout the duration of this video. When seen in a still photo, the goatee and long hair may give at least some of our readers pause. But...

Are the stars of 'Mr. and Mrs. Smith' set to officially become Mr. and Mrs. Pitt? Could 2011's planned wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton be eclipsed by the marriage of Hollywood royalty Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie? The Times of India is reporting that Brangelina are planning a Hindu wedding in the Indian province of Rajasthan next year under the guidance of spiritual guru Ram Lal Siyag: The Siddha Yoga guru, who is said to have played a key role in bringing peace and harmony into the jet-set lives of Jolie and Pitt, is unconcerned about his name being bandied about in the western media. His disciples, too, refuse to disclose any detail about the glamour wedding. The news websites also reported that Guru Siyag initiated the star couple into the Hindu way of life by giving them a mantra, which they are to recite every morning...

The Situation: working it for the holidays. (The Situation's Facebook page) Here's the fifth installment in our 12 Days of Celebritology Giftology series, a dozen posts designed to help you cross the celebrity- and pop-culture-obsessed pals off your holiday gift-giving lists. Think of these posts as our gift to you. We're just that generous. Today's mission: Find a gift for fans of MTV's cultural juggernaut, "Jersey Shore." People like me who might not be so disappointed to find a Snooki Wig under the Christmas tree. Luckily for all of us wanna-bes, the cast of MTV's "Jersey Shore" have been particularly adept at self-marketing since their show took off as one of 2010's biggest hits. For the uninitiated, it's about a bunch of fake-baked club rats who drink, smoosh and fight. Compelling, right? The picks, after the jump......

As we march toward late December, it's the time of year when we begin to look back on the cinematic achievements of yore. And by "yore," I mean movies that came out way back in March. Of course, the recent Golden Globe nominations and the rash of critics' association awards have started the process for us. But frankly, nothing does a better job of summarizing the past 365 days of Hollywood releases than a well-executed video montage. The following montage falls into that category. Dubbed Filmography 2010 and created by Vancouver college student Gin Ip, it features clips from virtually every film -- yes, even "Furry Vengeance" -- that showed up in theaters in recent months. In an e-mail, Ip said she spent three months assembling clips from trailers and piecing them together. "Film is such a fantastic storytelling medium, so when you can put multiple films together and make...

Before I watched the trailer for "Fast Five," the fifth installment in the hot-cars-that-go-superfast franchise "The Fast and the Furious," I thought the main question I'd be asking is whether we really need to see another movie with Vin Diesel and Paul Walker revving up their engines. Now that I've seen the trailer, the main question I'm asking is: Can't someone get Dwayne "the Rock" Johnson a part in a decent movie? He's got charisma. He's likable. He has a smile that could bring about world peace if the U.N. would only figure out how to harness its powers. Doesn't he deserve better than "The Tooth Fairy" and what he does here, which apparently involves playing a non-ironic version of the character he briefly portrayed in "The Other Guys"? Just a question....

Ryan Reynolds. (AP) Scarlett Johannson and Ryan Reynolds -- aka GQ's Babe of the Year and People's Sexiest Man Alive -- have separated and plan to divorce. In a joint statement released Tuesday, the couple wrote: "After long and careful consideration on both our parts, we've decided to end our marriage. We entered our relationship with love and it's with love and kindness we leave it. While privacy isn't expected, it's certainly appreciated." A source told Us magazine that the couple, married since 2008, separated about two weeks ago and that Johansson initiated the split. "The big problem with their relationship is the distance," said Us's source. "They spent a lot of time apart when they are working... She's been unhappy for a while." Scarlett Johansson. (AP) Back in March the couple's marriage was rumored to be in trouble because the pair was rarely seen together. But an "insider"...

May the sugar cookies be with you. (Image via Williams-Sonoma) Here's the fourth in our 12 Days of Celebritology Giftology series, a dozen posts designed to help you cross the celebrity- and pop-culture-obsessed pals off your holiday gift-giving lists. Think of these posts as our gift to you. We're just that generous. Today's mission: Find a present for the foodie/"Star Wars" fan. We are sure such people exist. And by "such people" we mean the ones who throw lavish dinner parties and joke that the main dish they are serving is actually roast wampa. The number of "Star Wars" gift options -- from books to light sabers to Lego sets -- is beyond staggering. Which is why today's Celebritology Giftology limits the Jedi-related options to those that apply to the joy of cooking and/or eating. Consider any one of the following potential presents when shopping for the Chewbacca-loving chef...

"Toy Story 3," you're a best picture contender in our book. (Pixar) | Gallery: The best picture nominees The Golden Globe nominees are out. And some surprises (um, how about that best actor in a comedy category?) as well as snubs most definitely emerged. Let's examine the biggies, all of which fall in the film category, and also figure out which of my bold Globe predictions came true. Also, feel free to peruse the complete list of nominees....

The way the new "Yogi Bear" movie should end but doesn't dare to. (This is totally safe for work, but so not for kids): By the way, Warner Bros. reportedly has no plans to go after the makers of the spoof....

Zac Efron and Vanessa Hudgens in the original 'High School Musical.' (AP) Sad news this morning for fans of celebrity relationship longevity. Not one, but two bold-name couples have gone their separate ways. First, "Dexter" stars Michael C. Hall and Jennifer Carpenter have severed their two-year year marriage. The former couple's reps released this statement to Entertainment Weekly: "Having been separated for some time, Jennifer Carpenter and Michael C. Hall have filed for divorce." They added that the split was amicable. Hall and Carpenter met on the set of the Showtime drama on which Carpenter plays Hall's foster sister. Earlier this year, Hall was successfully treated for Hodgkin's lymphoma. You may remember him accepting a Golden Globe last January wearing a ski cap worn to cover hair loss from chemotherapy. Meanwhile, the Disney-facilitated romance between "High School Musical" co-stars Zac Efron and Vanessa Hudgens has come to an end....

"The Social Network": en route to multiple Golden Globe Award nominations. (Sony) The Hollywood Foreign Press Association will reveal Tuesday morning the contenders for this year's Golden Globe Awards, officially cranking up the awards season to 11 and forcing cubicle workers across the country to ask their co-workers if they've heard of the obscure-ish Mike Leigh movie that just got nominated. Of course, we'll be closely watching the noms announcement here in Celebritology and weighing in with our takes on the surprises and snubs. But first, it's time for a fun round of Golden Globe Guessing Game, in which I boldly suggest five locks and five potential surprises that could surface when the slate of film-related competitors is unveiled....

Here's the third in our 12 Days of Celebritology Giftology series, a dozen posts designed to help you cross the celebrity- and pop-culture-obsessed pals off your holiday gift-giving lists. Think of these posts as our gift to you. We're just that generous. Today's mission: To find the perfect gift for the Antoine Dodson lover in your life. And, trust me, you know one. For the uninitiated (and I'm guessing at least a few of you still exist), Dodson is the star of the "Bed Intruder" YouTube videos -- what started out as an interview on a local TV newscast morphed into the song below and made Antoine Dodson a star. He's currently got 319,402 Facebook fans (which is 260,645 more than poor reality TV fail David Hasselhoff). That's right. Hide your kids, hide your wife because the "Bed Intruder" videos were the most-watched items on YouTube in 2010 with a...

Kate Middleton in her Reiss dress. That's Prince William to the left. (Photo by Mario Testion/Clarence House Press Office via Getty Images) Hey copy-Kates, breathe easy. The cream-colored clothes the princess-to-be sported in the couple's newly released official engagement photos will be coming soon to a store near you. Well, at least if you live in London. According to the U.K.'s Telegraph, Middleton insisted on dressing herself for the shoot "despite several assistants being on hand with a selection of designer clothes to style her." Not only is she pretty, but she can dress herself! For the casual shot, Middleton chose a no-longer-available cream silk blouse from the 2008 Whistles collection. But, said Jane Shepherdson, chief executive of Whistles, to the Telegraph -- Whistles will re-release the item. "We are delighted that Katherine has chosen to wear Whistles in her engagement photographs. Due to a surge of customer interest...

(Mario Testino/Clarence House Press Office via Getty Images) Over the weekend, Prince William and Miss Catherine Middleton (as the Clarence House Press Office directed she be identified) released a handful of "official engagement portraits." The pix were shot by fashion photographer Mario Testino, who photographed the prince's mother -- Princess Diana -- many times and is a go-to guy for high-fashion shoots and celebrity cover shots. "I am very happy to have been asked to cover this historic moment that the whole world was waiting for," said Testino. "They are in their prime and brimming with happiness. I have never felt so much joy as when I see them together." Okay, well, that's sad. But maybe the guy is sick and tired of shooting fashion mag covers? Kate Moss, Sarah Jessica Parker and Anne Hathaway are perhaps like interchangeable mannequins to him at this point and he's longing for...

Georgie Henley and Aslan, on top of the box office in "Voyage of the Dawn Treader." (Phil Bray) "The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader" was the No. 1 movie at the box office, but made only a so-so amount of money; audiences collectively said "eh" to Johnny Depp and Angelina Jolie; and overall, since business was down by 5 percent compared with this time last year, there wasn't much to be excited about regarding ticket sales. Unless, of course, you happen to be Darren Aronofsky, Natalie Portman or anyone else involved with "Black Swan." We've got the details -- and the full list of the weekend's top 10 films -- in this week's box office rundown....